Spark-gap for wireless telegraphy.



J. LOEFPLER. SPARK GAP FOR WIRELESS TELEGBAPBY.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 17, 1913.

' Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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WI TNESSES: QMQ%% warren snares PATENT OFFICE? JOHN LOEFFLER, 0F VALL'EJ'O, CALIFO-RNIAL' SPARK-GAP FOR WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.-

To all whom it may concern:

lle it known that 1, JOHN LOEFFLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vallejo, in the county of Solano and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Gaps for \Vireless Telegraphy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus employed in radio-telegraphy, and

more particularly to an improved spark discharge adapted for use in the primary or closed oscillating circuit of a radio-telegraph sending station, and the invention has for its principal object to provide a quenched spark dischar e in which the electrodes are capable of tine adjustment to regulate the spark gap so that the apparatus may be properly tuned to obtain the most efficient results; to provide means for maintaining cool the sparking surfaces by conveying the generated heat therefrom and by so doing preventing the sparks formed therebetween from unduly heating the sparking surfaces and causing arcs as the same are discharged from the electrodes, and to provide a structure having a receptacle or chamber containing air at very low pressure and in which the spark gaps are formed.

With the above mentioned and other .ob; jects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction, Within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention is a line termmal rod 15 which extendsreference is to be had to the accompanying sheetof drawing, disclosing a single spark discharge and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of my improved device, disclosing the electrodes and the manner of adjusting the same, the chamber in which the same are mounted, and the receptacle for containing the cooling fluid. Fi 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on e zw Y rig.-1. k 1/ H Referring more particularly to the drawingswhere'in is disclosed one pair of spark Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov; 17; 19] 4 Application filed March 17, 1913.

Serial No. 754,754.

gaps of one or more-gaps in series, the reference numeral 1 designates suitable-end plates of non-conducting material, and the same are'maintained in spaced relation by a circular shell 2, preferably of non-conducting transparent material 'and provided in its surface with threaded openings 3 and l, and the end edges of said shell engage suitable packing- 1 seated in grooves 6 formed on the corresponding inner faces of the end plates An interiorstationary electrode 7 in the form of conical chambers 8- and 9 conncctedadjacent their'apex in the form of an hour glass is positioned between the end plates andinteriorly of the shell 2, and the edges of the shell engage suitable packing 5 seated in grooves 6' formed in the corresponding inner faces of the end members.

Suitable boltslOserve to draw the end plates together, and force the edges of the shells Q-and 7 against the packing in the grooves 6 and 6' and maintain fluid tight joints between the same, and when the structure is, assembled the air is maintained in the chamber at a very low pressure.

From the above descriptlon it will be observed that between the shell 2 and stationary electrode -7 is formed a chamber 11 adapted to receive a suitable cooling fluid such as water and thesame may be circulatgd therethrough through the yppenings 3 an 4.

Positioned within each of the chambers 8 and -9 in the stationary electrode is a conical electrode 12, of any suitable conducting ma terial, and of a size preferably smaller than the chamber, so as to permit the -sparking surface 13 of-the electrode to be adjusted relative to the inner sparking surface 14 of the chamber. 4 y

Threaded into the base of each-electrode through and projects be and .the endiof a guide sleeve lfi secured 0 the end plate 1,

and provided at the end of each guide sleeve 16 and surrounding the rod projected therethrough is a pack mg 17 retained in comgroove 22 in which is seated the curved end 23 of a member 24 secured to the exterior of the guide sleeve. The curved end 23 is pro.- vided with an indicating pointer 24 adapted to lie in coiiperative relation with suitable in position by said end plate, said shell providmg a fluid receiving cooling chamber sur-- graduation's 25 formed on the peripheral edge of the nut 20 and it will be observed that upon the rotation of the nuts 20, the sparking surfaces of the electrodes will be adjusted relative to the sparking surfaces of the chamber.

A slot 26 is provided in the end of each -line terminal rod and is adapted to receive worn and it is required to readjust the elec- '-trode independently of the adjusting nut.

It will be apparent from the above description that 'the, sparking surfaces are atv cient than in devices heretofore provided,

and by cooling the sparking surface of the electrodes the sparks in jumping from one surface to the other will be prevented from forming an arc.

Having thus described my invention What I claim-as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is :1

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stationary electrode provided with opposed conical chambers therein, an end plate positioned over the outer open end of each of said chambers, a shell surrounding said stationary electrode in spaced relation thereto, and maintained minal rod and is provided with an annular an instrument for rotating the rod and electrode when the sparking surfaces become rounding said electrode, a conical electrodepositioned Within each of said chambers, a terminal rod extending from eachof said conica'lelectrodes and pro ecting through said end plates, and-means for'adggusting as i,

said electrodes relative to uaidcham are.

2. In an apparatus Ofthfigcl descr bed,

the combination,with-xaj stationary electrode provided with communicating c posed. con1-- cal chambers therein, aconic'al' ectrodepo' sitioned'within each, of said chambers, a-

shell surrounding said Stationaryelectrode and providing a cooling chamber, and means for adjusting said electrodes in said chambers...

3. ln'an apparatus of theclass described, the combination with a stationary electrode ing a cooling fluid,end plates for positioning over theouter ends of said conical chambers and the peripheral edges of said shell, a tubular guide sleeve extended outwardly from each of said end plates, a conical electrode positioned Within each of said champrovided with communicating opposed conical chambers, a shell surrounding said electrode in spaced relation thereto for containbers and provided with a terminal rod eX- tended through said end plate and guide sleeve, and means darried by said guide sleeve and coiiperating with said terminal rod for adjusting said electrodes in said chambers. v

4. In an apparatus of. the class described, the combination with a stationary electrode provided with opposed conical chambers therein, a conical electrode positioned within each of said chambers, means for adjusting said electrodes in said chamber, and a receptacle surrounding said stationary elec trode andfadapted to contain a cooling fluid .for conveying the generated heat. therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN LOEFFLER.

Witnesses I ANDLEW WHITE, ALBERT BERNI-IEIM Copies 02 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the E3onimi:micner e2 Eutents, Weshington, D. e." v i 

